Apoel look value to make their European experience count in first-leg clash

Apoel Nicosia fans have enjoyed some memorable European nights recently

Julian Finney

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By Liam Flin
8:00PM, AUG 8 2018

Europa League third qualifying round, first leg Thursday 6pm

The Europa League qualifiers offer a last-chance saloon for Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Apoel Nicosia after both dropped down from qualification for the Champions League and the travelling Cypriots can bolster their playoff hopes with victory in Israel.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva suffered a 7-2 aggregate loss to Dinamo Zagreb in the second qualifying round for Europe’s elite competition.

Apoel, meanwhile, responded to defeat at the start of Champions League qualifying by beating Estonian champions Flora in the second round of the Europa League qualifiers.

They are 69 places above their Israeli counterparts in Uefa’s club-coefficient rankings and have vast European experience to call upon.

Apoel have made the group stage of either of the continental competitions in each of the last five seasons and advanced as far as the Europa League last 16 two terms ago.

They endured a disappointing European campaign last year, picking up just two points in their Champions League group, but they had a brutal draw alongside winners Real Madrid, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund.

The hosts from Israel have won just one of their last four European matches at home and have progressed beyond this stage of qualifying for a European competition only twice in their history.